University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Rules

Flag football (men/women) play shall be subjected to the UALR general Intramural rules and regulations. Limit two teams per organization. The National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Flag Football Rules shall govern flag football play with modifications:

1. The Playing Field - The field shall be 40 yards wide and 100 yards long from end zone to end zone line. The field will be marked in two 10-yard end zones and four 20-yard zones, and a three and a 10-yard line for extra points.
2. The Players - Seven (7) players shall constitute a team. However, a team may play with as few as five (5) players to avoid a forfeit. The offensive team shall have a minimum of four players on the line of scrimmage (three if only five/six players) with the remaining players at least one yard behind the line of scrimmage. Violation of this rule provides for a 5-yard penalty from the previous line of scrimmage. Direct snaps by quarterback are illegal.
3. Equipment - Players may not wear protective devices such as pads, guards, or braces without the approval of Intramural personnel. Soccer shoes, tennis shoes, regulation touch football shoes are acceptable, but no hard cleated or sharp cleated shoes are to be worn. Any shoe judged to be dangerous such as steel-toed shoes are considered to be illegal. Metal rings, bracelets, watches, necklaces, etc. could cause injury to the wearer or another player and therefore are considered to be illegal equipment. Penalty: Disqualification from the game until the illegal equipment is removed.
4. Length of Games - Two twenty-minutes (20) halves shall constitute a game for men. Two eighteen-minute (18) halves shall constitute a game for women. Time is continuous for each period except when time-out is called an unavoidable delay such as retrieving a kick or pass out of bounds, after a delay of the game.

THE GAME

• Field Captain - A field captain must be designated for each team (Offense and Defense). He/she shall represent his/her team at the toss of the coin before the game, act as sole team spokesman during any dispute that may arise during the game, and make decisions on penalties for his/her team. The field captain shall also fill out any forms such as a protest or evaluation of officials as the representative for that team.

• Forfeit Time - Any team (at least five (5) players) not ready to play within five (5) minutes after the scheduled time shall forfeit to the team ready to play. If neither team is present, both teams are forfeited.

• The Kick-Off - A place kick begins each half of a game. The place kick line is the 20-yard line. Kicking the ball out of bounds or off sides by the kicking team shall be penalized by requiring that they kick off again with a five (5) yard penalty. A second consecutive offside or kick-out-of bounds by the kick off team shall be penalized by awarding the ball to the receiving team at the midfield line, or take it where it went out. If the kick-off goes out-of-bounds behind the goal line, it is a touchback and the ball begins on the defending team’s 15-yard line. There are no on-side kicks.

• Receiving Kick Off - The receiving team on the kick off must be 20 yards from kicking team free kick line. No forward passes on free kicks. Any kick-off or scrimmage kick that crosses the plane of goal line may result in a touchback. On touchbacks the ball begins on the 15-yard line.

• Downs - Four downs shall be allowed in which to advance the ball into the next zone. The next zone shall be considered reached when any part of the ball crosses or touches the line marking the zone, whereupon a new series of downs begin. A first down shall be declared if a penalty against the defense advances the ball into the next zone. A team starting a series of downs in one zone but losing yardage back to the previous zone (by play or penalty) must still advance the ball to the original zone to gain for a first down. A first down shall be awarded for any penalty calling for an automatic first down regardless of the zone to gain and position of the ball.

• Passing - All lateral passes that touch the ground shall be ruled dead at the spot where the ball touches the ground or in the case of a muffed lateral pass, dead at the spot where the catch was muffed.

• De-Flagging - A ball carrier is down and the ball shall be declared dead when a defensive player removes the flag of an offensive player. A player who removes the flag belt from the runner should immediately hold the flag belt above his/her head to assist the official in locating the spot where the capture occurred. If the flag belt inadvertently falls to the ground, a one hand tag (pushing, striking, slapping, and holding are not permitted) between the shoulders and the knees constitutes capture. A player may leave his/her feet to remove the flag belt. A passer is considered downed if the flag is removed prior to the passer releasing the ball.

• Scoring - The player scoring the touchdown must raise his/her arms so the nearest official can deflag the player. If the player is not deflagged with one pull and the official determines the flag belt has been secured illegally, the touchdown is disallowed and the player is disqualified.
  Mercy Rule: If a team is 20 or more points ahead with five (5) minutes (or after) in the second half the game is over.  Point After Touchdown (PAT) or Try: An opportunity to score one (1) point from the three (3) yard line or two (2) points from the ten (10) yard line by running or passing. Once the team makes the choice they may only change the decision by taking a time-out. If defensive team intercepts a pass or fumble during try and returns it for a touchdown, they score two (2) points.

• Illegal Flag Removal - A defender shall not hold the ball carrier in any manner so that a flag can be removed. Penalty: The ball shall be blown dead and an automatic 10 yard penalty assessed from the spot of the violation or from the previous line of scrimmage, whichever provides the greatest distance. Unnecessary roughness in the act of removing the flag shall call for the same penalty.

• Punts - The kicker on punts may have absolute protection from rushing if the referee and opposing team are informed. Under these conditions no player on either team may cross the scrimmage line until the ball has been kicked. If the offense fails to kick the ball after notification or if a player from either team crosses the scrimmage line before the ball is kicked, a 5-yard penalty if accepted will be assessed from the previous line of scrimmage. The kicking team will have three seconds from the time of the snap of the ball to the contact of the kickers foot to the ball to execute the punt. The referee shall count the seconds aloud and if the ball has not been kicked at the completion of the count it shall be blown dead and spotted the previous line of scrimmage with possession of the ball changing hands if the kick was attempted on fourth down. The ball must be snapped directly from the center to the punter. The defense players may not “stack” on each other for the purpose of blocking the kick. Penalty: 5 yards from previous line of scrimmage.

• Delay of Game - The offensive team has 25 seconds from the time the ball is spotted by the referee to put the ball back into play. Substitutions may be made freely by both teams during this 25-second interval or at any time the ball is declared dead by the officials. Failure to get the ball into play within the 25-second interval shall result in the clock being stopped and a 5-yard penalty assessed. The clock shall not start again until the ball is snapped.

• Safety - After a safety has been scored, the team scored upon shall put the ball into play with a free kick from the twenty yard line. The restraining line for the receiving team shall be the midfield line where four players (3 for a 5/6 player team) must be stationed.

• Pass Interference - NIRSA rules defining offensive and defensive pass interference shall apply, but the penalty for defensive pass interference shall be as follows: The offended team (offense) shall be awarded the ball 10 yards from the previous spot with an automatic first down. Exception: if the foul occurs in the end zone the ball will be spotted on the three-yard line. The penalty for offensive pass interference shall be 10 yards from the previous line of scrimmage and loss of a down.

• Unnecessary Roughness - The officials shall call unnecessary roughness when any player, whether on offense or defense, uses rough tactics considered by the officials unnecessary in the accomplishment of his legitimate purpose. Penalty: 10 yards from the spot of the foul or previous line of scrimmage whichever provides the greater distance.

• Ball Carrying - The ball carrier may not lower his/her head or deliberately drive or run into defensive players. Nor may he/she hurdle or attempt to hurdle an opponent. No “stiff-arm” is allowed. Penalty: 10 yards from the spot of the foul.

• Blocking - Screen blocking is the only type block permitted at any time or place during the game. The hands must be held together behind the back. The blocker cannot deliver any type of forceful blow such as a shoulder block, leave his/her feet, or contact the ground with a hand while blocking (scramble Block). Penalty: 10 yards from the spot of the foul or previous line of scrimmage, whichever constitutes the greater penalty distance. Players may use 2, 3, or 4 point stance.

• Offensive Play - One offensive player may be in motion, but not in motion toward the opponent’s goal line at the snap. The player who receives the snap must be at least two (2) yards behind the scrimmage line. An offensive player is responsible for returning the ball after a scrimmage down. The snapper will bring the ball from the huddle to the scrimmage line.

• Defensive Play - Defensive players may not use their hands in attempting to ward off blockers nor are they permitted to deliver a hard defensive blow with the hands or arms, attempt to run over a blocker or hold a blocker. A defensive player cannot use his/her hands or arms on the neck or head of the opposing player. Penalty: 10 yards from the spot of the foul or previous line of scrimmage whichever constitutes the greater penalty distance. Clarification: on blocking and defensive play if blocker gets his feet (assumes a stationary blocking position) then it is the defensive player’s responsibility to alter his/her line of travel or by faking, maneuver the blocker off balance so that he (the defender) can brush by.

• Tie Games - An overtime period consists of one possession by each team. Ball will be placed on the 10-yard line. All overtime periods are played toward same goal line and the winner of the toss will have the option of offense, defense, or direction. Each team will be allowed four downs to get a touch down. PAT’s will be attempted. If defense intercepts a pass and scores, they win. One time out per period.

• Conduct of players - Cursing, griping at the officials, and other unsportsmanlike conduct shall result in a 10 yard penalty and a warning from the officials. Failure to heed the warning from the officials resulting in a second offense constitutes a violation of the Code of Ethics, which must be reported on a written form. The offending player or players or spectators will then be asked to leave the game and immediate area.

SUMMARY OF FOULS AND PENALTIES:

LOSS OF 5 YARDS:

1. Delay of game or illegal substitution
2. Encroachment
3. False start or illegal act by snapper
4. Unfair Tactics
5. Fewer than 5 (or 4) offensive players on the line of scrimmage
6. Offensive player: Illegal motion, illegal shift and false start
7. Infraction of Free Kick formation
8. Free Kick out-of-bounds
9. Offensive player not within 15 yards of ball
10. Player out-of-bounds when ball is snapped
11. Player receiving snap within 2 yards of scrimmage line
12. Illegally handing ball forward
13. Intentionally throwing backward pass or fumble out-of-bounds
14. Illegal forward pass
15. Intentional grounding
16. Helping runner

LOSS OF 10 YARDS:

1. Quick Kick
2. Kick catch interference
3. Two or more consecutive encroachments during the same interval between scrimmage downs
4. Forward pass interference
5. Unsportsmanlike player conduct
6. Spiking, kicking, throwing or not returning ball to official during dead ball
7. Steal, strike or attempt to steal ball
8. Trip an opponent
9. Contact with opponent on ground
10. Throw runner to ground
11. Hurdle any player
12. Drive or run into player
13. Clipping
14. Position upon shoulders or body
15. Tackle runner
16. Roughing the passer
17. Illegal offensive screen blocking
18. Interlocked interference
19. Defensive use of hands
20. Guarding flag belt
21. Stiff arm
22. Obstruction of runner
23. Batting a free ball
24. Illegal participation
25. Illegal flag belt removal
26. Note: No Penalty may take the ball more than one-half the distance to from the enforcement spot to the offending team’s goal line. One-half (1/2) the distance to the goal shall be the rule in these cases.

LOSS OF DOWN FOULS:

1. Illegally handing the ball forward
2. Illegal backward pass
3. Illegal forward pass
4. Forward pass interference - offensive
5. Illegally securing flag belts

AUTOMATIC FIRST DOWN FOULS:

1. Forward pass interference - defensive
2. Roughing the passer - behind the scrimmage line
3. Illegally secured flag belt

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